This Sunday, the 21st, the FC Porto coach considered the current situation of Portuguese refereeing “unsustainable”, defending a reflection on national football and the way in which video referees (VAR) are used.
“Honestly, I believe that mistakes are part of the game. Players miss goals, coaches make mistakes on substitutions. The problem is when there is a feeling that the system is constantly failing”, said Francesco Farioli, at the press conference previewing the visit to Alverca, on Monday, for the 15th round of the I League.
The Italian’s statements occur a few days after Sporting’s victory at Santa Clara, 3-2, in the round of 16 of the Portuguese Cupafter the two-time national champions and holders of the trophy reached a draw thanks to a penalty in the last minutes of regulation time.
The decision of the match’s referee, João Pinheiro, who will oversee the ‘dragons’ clash in Alverca, led the ‘blue and white’ club to issue a statement and the Italian coach to call for reflection, to face the situation “seriously” to protect the value of competition.
“Therefore, the club’s statement was very clear in all aspects, very calm, but the need to deal with this situation with a calm mind and also with bravery, to take some decisions, because it is becoming unsustainable (…), I think it is a shame to see so many stops, so many cards for banks. Therefore, I say that it is out of control and that it is unsustainable, that it is not possible to waste more time complaining than when the ball is rolling on the field”, detailed.
Farioli acknowledged that VAR “was born to help referees” but that, currently, it is perceived as “a tool that judges the referee’s performance”, creating fear in decisions.
“Maybe it’s time to go back to our origins”, he admitted, still considering the attention given in newspapers and television to the “discussion about arbitration” to be “surreal”.
And then he pointed out a path for change.
“Portugal is a world reference, it produces talent, it has great coaches and players. We should talk about this more. The first step has to come from those responsible, and then we all have to follow this philosophy”, he highlighted.
Farioli also announced the physical recovery of Francisco Moura, also ironizing the signing of Brazilian international central defender Thiago Silva, aged 41, confirmed on Saturday.
“In the last three games we conceded three goals, the president and I were worried and decided to sign a great player”, he joked, before highlighting the importance of the Brazilian international.
The defender returns to the Dragons 21 years after playing for the B team, with a career full of achievements, playing for clubs such as AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.